Grain-bin.



Patented June 17, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I] INVENTOR w r w n ATTORNEYS J. T. GRAHAM.

GRAIN BIN.

APPLICATION IILED 00T.30, 1911.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 50.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

WITNESSES J. T. GRAHAM.

GRAIN BIN.

APPLICATION FILED 00130, 1911.

Patented June 17, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0., WASIHNGTON, n. c.

JOHN TWEDIJLE GRAHAM, OF BELFRY, MONTANA.

GRAIN-BIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1'7, 1913.

Application filed October 30, 1911. Serial No. 657,597.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN T. GRAHAM, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of Belfry, in the county of Carbonand State of Montana, have invented a new and Improved Grain-Bin, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention is a grain bin of the portable type, so designed that itcan be readily set up by a single farm-hand wherever it is needed foruse, and as readily taken down and packed for shipment to anotherlocation when the need for it in any given place has ceased to exist.

It is constructed of light but strong material, so as to be easily andcheaply made, even in cases where grain bins of consider able capacityare required.

lVith the above objects in view, my inven tion is designed to comprise asuitable framework which is covered with wire cloth of the requiredmesh. The framework is set up on a fabric floor and is provided with afabric top to act as a roof. The parts can be quickly put together so asto be set up by one man alongside of a separator; and when the bin isonce finished the contents thereof will be completely protected fromfire, weather and insects.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which the same characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my im proved grain bin set up andready for use; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the framework thereof;Fig. 3 is a vertical section through one side of the framework near thebottom; Fig. 4 is a vertical section through part of the framework nearthe top thereof, showing the manner in which the canvas cover or roof isattached; Fig. is a vertical section through the side of the bin takenabout a point midway of the height thereof; Fig. 6 is a section similarto that shown in Fig. a, taken through the point at which the ends ofthe gauze forming the side wall of the bin overlap each other; Fig. 7 isa fragmentary view in perspective, showing the parts appearing on Fig. 6in section; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the coupling whichunites the diagonal braces for the bin on the interior of the same.

My improved bin as illustrated on the drawings comprises a number ofstays arranged in pairs, each pair of stays comprising an outer stay 1and an inner stay 2, and connected together at their ends and adjacenttheir mid points by means of straps or hoops 8. These straps or hoops 8pass between the inner and outer stays l and 2, and are preferablycircular in form, as shown, to give the bin a substantially cylindricalappearance.

Braces 4, preferably four in number, are connected to the inner stays 2at equi-distant points around the circumference of the bin, about on thelevel of the middle hoop 3, these braces slanting downward and inwardand being connected at their lower ends by a coupling 5, this couplingconsisting of a central plate or disk, from the circumference of whichprojects outward and upward a number of sockets into which the lowerends of the braces 4 are inserted. These braces a add strength andrigidity to the framework and at the same time take up practically noneof the free space on the inside of the same.

On the top of the bin is a number of rafters 6, preferably four innumber, connected to the inner stays 2 at the top. These rafters slopeupward and inward and are connected at their inner ends to a ring 7.Over these rafters 6 is placed a canvas roof or cover 8, the edge ofthis cover overlapping the upper hoop or strap 3, and being secured inplace by means of a draw string 9. This cover makes a sloping coni calroof for the bin and effectually screens the interior fr m rain.

10 indicates wire cloth of suitable mesh, which forms a side wall of thebin, this wire cloth being arranged between the stays 1 and 2 on theinside of the hoops 3. The entire bin rests upon a canvas floor 11; andse cured to the bottom of the framework between the lower ring 3 and thewire cloth 10 is a circular strip of cloth 12, this cloth being providedwith a draw string along its inner edge to enable the ends thereof to bedrawn together. When the bin is filled with grain this circular strip 12of cloth will be pressed down upon the canvas floor 11 and effectuallyprevent the entrance of rodents or insects into the grain through thebottom.

Supported by a convenient pair of outer stays 1 is a number of rungs 13,which form therewith a ladder leading from the bottom of the bin to thetop. Adjacent the lower part of this ladder is a spout or hopper 1 1having a detachable inner extension 15 open at the top, this spindle orhopper being supported by a perforated plate 16 mounted on the staysforming the sides of the ladder. The spout let has a flange 1 1extending around the same on the bottom and sides, and the extension 15has a similar flange 15 extending around the bottom and sides thereof,these two flanges 1 1 and 15 facilitating the mounting of the spout andthe extension on the plate 16, respectively. The numerals 17 indicatehooks projecting outward from the stays forming the sides of the ladderjustabove the spout 14-, these hooks being intended to support the upperedge of a bag in position to receive the spout let in the open upper endor mouth thereof, to convey the grain from the inside of the bin intothe bag or sack.

The flange 15 connected to the extension 15 is shown as provided with anumber of slots 21. These slots 21 receive a number of buttons 22, toenable the extension 15 to be readily hung on the inside of the plate16. The slots may be made wider at the bottom than at the top to givefree passage to the buttons 22; and it will be understood that theshanks connecting the buttons 22 to the plate 16 will be of somewhatsmaller diameter than the buttons 22, to enter the narrow portions ofthe slots 21 when the extension 15 is allowed to sink a short space. Thebuttons 22 will now engage the lateral edges adjacent the upper end ofthe slots 21, and hold the extension 15 in place. In order to remove itit will only be necessary to lift it sufficiently to bring the members22 into registry with the wider portions of the slots at the lower ends,when the extension 15 can be dismounted. Similar means may be used todetachably secure the spout 1 1 to the front of the plate 16.

The acent ends of the cloth 10 forming the side wall of the bin overlapeach other between one pair of stays 1 and 2, and so do the ends of thehoops 3. The manner in which the oint is made is shown in Figs. 6 and 7,wherein the ends of the hoops 3 are shown located between the stays 1and 2; and the two overlapping layers of wire cloth 10 are also locatedbetween the stays 1 and 2, and inward of the adjacent ends of the hoops3 to which they are respectively attached.

18 is a bolt passing through the upper ends of the stays, the wire clothand the hoops 3, to make the joint tight. This bolt has apivoted head 19secured thereto on the inside of the bin; and 20 is a lock-nut whichengages the bolt on the outside, to bind the parts together.

The manner in which the braces t are secured to the stays 1 and 2 isshown in Fig.

5, the middle hoop 3 being shown between the braces and to the outsideof the cloth 10. Likewise, the manner in which the rafters (i aresecured to the top of the framework of the bin is shown in Fig. 4,wherein the rafters are illustrated as being provided with down-turnedends and secured to the inside of the stays 2 by means of bolts whichpass through these down-turned ends, the stays 2, the cloth 10, the hoop3 and the outer stays 1.

The wire cloth 10 is preferably 8x8 meshes to the inch, and made ofgalvanized 18-gagc wire. The vertical stays 1 and 2 are preferably ofhard wood, and the hoops 3 may be of flexible iron, similar to thematerial used for barrel hoops. The middle hoop 3 will be riveted to thewire cloth at points six inches apart between the stays, and the lowerhoop 3 will be bolted to the stays 1 and 2 all the way around, to allowthe insertion of the flap of canvas 12 between the bottom hoop and thewire cloth. By using bolts instead of rivets, this canvas flap or stripcan be removed for repairs or renewal. The upper hoop will likewise bebolted to the stays and the rafters 6.

I have found that wire cloth of the mesh mentioned will give amplestrength to resist the outward pressure of the grain when the bin isloaded, and, therefore, it is unnecessary to provide any additionalreinforcing, except on the upper and lower edges of the cloth. At thepoint where the vertical edges of the wire cloth overlap each other,however, I prefer to secure the vertical edges of the wire cloth and theends of the hoops 3 to strips of galvanized iron. hese strips ofgalvanized iron are shown at 1. and 2 on Fig. 7, riveted to the innerand outer stays respectively in such a way that they will be between thetwo stays at the point where the joint is made.

The cover and floor of the bin will be made of water-proof canvas, andthe canvas floor 11 will project several inches beyond the bottom hoop3, so that, when the bin is set up, earth can be heaped around thebottom, as shown in Fig. 1. The cou pling plate will be secured to theground by means of wooden pegs around its edges; or, if desired, thesewooden pegs may be dispensed with and the plate 5 allowed simply to restupon the floor oi the bin; and when a bin constructed as described isset np, it forms a light, compact, rigid and tightlyclosed structurewhich can be readily taken down and moved from place to place, as isrequired in certain parts of the country where grain fields areextensive and shipping facilities few. The banking of the soil on theoutside edge of the canvas 11 will prevent flooding in with rain water;the roof will prevent rain from getting into the top, and the wire cloth10 will be treated wit-h a flexible waterproof paint to make it resistthe disintegrating action of the weather and last for a very long time.One layer of the wire cloth 10-1 find enough, as I prefer it to be. Thepaint will fill the space between the strands and form a continuouswater proof surface.

My improved bin can be set up by one man in a field alongside of aseparator, and is so light that a bin of five hundred bushels capacitywill not exceed one hundred and twenty-five pounds in weight, At thesame time, the cost of a bin of this size will be no greater than theexpense of providing gunny sacks for the same quantity of grain.

It will be understood that the ends of the cloth 10 are secured togetherby the bolts 18 along the entire length of the stays 1 and 2 at thepoint where the joint is formed, as shown in Fig. 1. Further, the bincan be readily filled from the top, and the spout or hopper 1% willfacilitate the unloading of the grain by shovel when the supply of grainin the bin sinks below the level of the grain in the extension 15. Inloading the bin, the braces 1 may be loosened and taken out when thesurface of the grain has risen to a certain point, as these braces areonly intended to keep the framework of the bin in perpendicular positionuntil it is partly filled.

I have shown and described my bin as being intended for the storage ofgrain, but it is obvious that I may use it for the storage of otherthings than grain as well.

It will be understood that the stays forming the sides of the ladderwhich are connected to the rungs 13, will be located a sufiicientdistance apart to serve the purpose in question, and without interferingwith either the setting up or taking down of the bin in practice.

In practice, I may make the hoops shown at 3 flexible enough to enablethe body of the bin to be rolled up after being taken down, so as tooccupy the smallest possible space for storage or shipment.

I wish to have it understood that I may make certain changes in theshape, size and arrangement of the parts, such as fairly fall within thescope and spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. A storehouse of the kind described comprising a plurality of uprightsupports arranged in pairs, the members of each pair occupying inner andouter positions with respect to each other, said uprights beingconnected together at their lower ends by means of a hoop receivedbetween the members of said pairs, means forming the side walls of saidstorehouse, received between said pairs and supported in positionthereby, and a flap of fabric, the inner edge of which extends inwardand the outer edge of which is received between the lower ends of saiduprights to form a closure for the bottom of said storehouse.

2. A storehouse of the kind described comprising a plurality of uprightstays arranged in pairs, hoops connecting said pairs together at theirupper and lower ends, means received between said stays forming the sidewalls of said storehouse, a fabric floor for said storehouse projectingbeyond the periphery thereof, and a flap of fabric, the inner edge ofwhich extends inward into said storehouse and rests upon said floor, andthe outer edge of which is received between said stays to be secured inposition, whereby, when the earth is heaped upon the outer edge of saidfabric floor around said storehouse, access to the interior of thestorehouse through the bottom from without will be closed.

8. In a storehouse of the kind described, the combination of a pluralityof upright stays, means received between said stays to form the sidewalls of said storehouse, hoops connecting said stays together at theirupoer and lower ends and u )ri ht stri s connecting the ends of saidhoops together, said strips being received between a pair of said staysto form a tight joint for the overlapping ends of the cloth forming theside walls of the bin.

l. A storehouse of the kind described com prising a plurality of innerand outer stays arranged in pairs, hoops connecting said pairs togetherat their upper and lower ends and arranged between the same, meansforming the side walls of said storehouse, received between said staysand supported thereby, upright strips joining the ends of said hoopstogether, said strips lying be tween a pair of said stays, the edges ofsaid means forming the side walls of the store house being joined tosaid hoops and to said strips, and a plurality of bolts passing throughsaid pair of stays and said strips to form a tight joint for theoverlapping edges of the means forming the said side walls.

5. A storehouse of the kind described com prising a plurality of uprightstays arranged in pairs, the members of each pair occupying inner andouter positions with respect to each other, means forming the side wallsof said storehouse supported by said stays, and a flap of fabric, theinner edge of which extends inward and the outer edge of which isreceived between the lower ends of said stays to form a closure for thebottom of said storehouse.

6. In a storehouse of the kind described, the combination of a pluralityof upright stays, means secured to said stays to form the side walls ofthe storehouse, flexible bands connecting said stays together, and

upright strips to connect the ends of said bands, said strips beingsecured to each other when the storehouse is set up.

7. In a storehouse of the kind described, the combination of a pluralityof upright stays arranged in pairs, the members of each pair occupyinginner and outer positions with respect to each other when the storehouseis set. up, means forming the side Walls 10 of said storehouse receivedbetween said stays, and a plurality of flexible bands re ceived betweensaid stays.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN TWVEDDLE GRAHAM.

Witnesses T. S. GRAHAM, JANE GRAHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

